7 free ways to build buzz for startups

7 Free Ways To Build Buzz For StartupsWhat I’ve learned the last two years building SocialGrow’s brand with no marketing budget

Marsh SutherlandBoston BizSpark MeetupSeptember 8, 2011

©2011 SocialGrow, Inc.

Tweeters?

Tonight’s hashtag is #BostonBizspark

My Twitter profiles are @SocialGrow and @MarshSutherland

Please tweet out things you learn using either or both of the above!

©2011 SocialGrow, Inc. of 10

of 10©2011 SocialGrow, Inc.

Speaking of…. Add a custom background with your logo and personalize with main tweeter’s photo

Demonstrate original THOUGHT LEADERSHIP in your target customers’ vertical and in the startup world. #startups

Follow tweeters who tweet using RELEVANT hashtags. i.e. #BizSpark

Tweet 3X+ per day and ENGAGE other tweeters in your specialty and #startups

Share “LINK LOVE” by tweeting about posts from the thought leaders in your field. Best way to get noticed.

@SocialGrow grew to 46K+ followers using these methods

SocialGrow Proprietary (Restricted)

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Email Lists

Again, demonstrate THOUGHT LEADERSHIP by SHARING interesting articles RELEVANT to startups and to your customers’ vertical

Meetup.com, Yahoo! Groups, and Google Groups are excellent forums.

ENGAGE in email list discussions about startups & your vertical. SHARE and GIVE referrals if requested.

Email to the list so your auto-signature is seen.

I post to BostonBizSpark Meetup, LeanStartup Circle Boston Meetup, and Harvard Startups Yahoo! Group regularly.


GroupsJazz up your LinkedIn profile describing your startup & create a Company page

Join RELEVANT LinkedIn groups focused on startups and your customers’ vertical

Again, demonstrate THOUGHT LEADERSHIP by posting new discussions in these groups & ENGAGE in relevant discussions, especially with thought leaders

Invite other RELEVANT group members to connect with you on LinkedIn

Share interesting posts on your LinkedIn Status.


VideosGet your YouTube channel with your startup’s name. i.e. www.youtube.com/socialgrow

Demonstrate THOUGHT LEADERSHIP by doing video blogs about working on a startup & issues RELEVANT to your customers

Post up interviews with people on RELEVANT topics

Use ANIMOTO to make some killer videos like we have on the SocialGrow YouTube channel and tweet about them

Share these videos on your Facebook Like page

http://www.youtube.com/socialgrow


Like PageGet a Facebook Like page for your startup

Invite all your friends to join

Tweet about your Like page and send emails out to your email lists asking people to join

Once you get 25 people liking it, get a custom domain like www.facebook.com/socialgrow

Demonstrate THOUGHT LEADERSHIP and INITIATE topical discussions with your fans

Sign up for Involver.com to automatically share other social media

http://www.facebook.com/socialgrow


BlogsPut up a branded-looking blog. Great themes at Themeforest.net

Again, demonstrate THOUGHT LEADERSHIP by posting original articles on relevant topics

Have links to your other social media channels on your blog, like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and CrunchBase

Announce your latest blog posts on email lists, Twitter, LinkedIn groups, and Facebook Like pages (Brad Harkavy is *awesome* at this. www.harkador.com

Comment original value-adding comments on thought leaders’ blogs relevant to startups and your customers’ vertical. Don’t just say “I agree. You’re so smart!”

http://www.harkador.com/


HelpAReporter.com

Sign up for HARO – HelpAReporter.com

Email comes out 3X per day

Respond immediately to articles as soon as you see a relevant one.

Free PR drives people to your site & helps you demonstrate THOUGHT LEADERSHIP!!


Thanks!

Any Questions?

Marsh SutherlandPresident | Co-Founder

SocialGrow, [email protected]

(888) SOC-GROW Ext 1

7 free ways to build buzz for startups

Technology

Transcript of 7 free ways to build buzz for startups